How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World!

I started this post several weeks ago but never finished it.  Life keeps getting in the way of my blogging.  I've determined that something has to give because I can't do it all...and my poor blog is the thing that is giving.  Maggie has not been an easy baby.  She is very fussy unless she is held and typing with one hand just isn't my thing.  The last week or so she has gotten much better - sleeping by herself for at least an hour or so, being content in her swing for a few minutes, and overall just being a more happy baby.  She still nurses every 3-4 hours, but being able to say that sometimes she can go 4 hours makes me happy.

We officially started kindergarten, although we are homeschoolers that school year round.  We have way too much company during the year and we like visit family out of state for extended periods of time, so going year round just works for now.

Our second Five In A Row book for this weeks was How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World by Marjorie Priceman.  It was such a fun book!  The girl wants to make an apple pie, but when she goes to the market to pick up her ingredients the market is closed.  So, logically, she travels all over the world to pick up her needed supplies.

We did a few activities with the book, including learning about the flags of the countries she visits, learning some new vocabulary words, and doing a salt water evaporation experiment.

For history we are on chapter 2 of Story of the World.  We are learning about the ancient Egyptians!  William colored a map, did cave paintings with some friends who are also doing the same history curriculum, made paddle dolls (see crooked picture below), and watched a video on the Egyptians.

I have to be honest.  I do NOT like the math program I picked out.  I thought I would love it but sadly I do not.  It's very visual/hands on, so maybe in the future I'll love it, but right now I don't.  William doesn't seem to get it, and I have to spend way too much time gathering supplies and actually reading how the heck to teach the material.  Gimme a break.  It's kindergarten math.  I'm fairly confident in my math skills and having to spend so much time figuring out how to teach this wonderful curriculum is sapping the life out of me.  Mom gave me Math-It to use and we LOVE it.  So for now we will use that and supplement as needed.  I'll rethink the math for 1st grade.

Frustration levels are lifting in the reading/writing department.  He can read simple CVC words with the short and .  We are working through a simple phonics book by Modern Curriculum Press as well.

Our Latin is progressing nicely as well.  The kids love the Latin songs so they are learning the vocabulary quickly.

With every new Latin word they get a coloring sheet.  They just love these sheets!  When they are finished with them we put them on the wall in the school room and review them during calendar time.

 A few random shots of cuteness...

The Legos William got for his birthday

Taken Sept. 20